Today's Gospel from Saint Matthew is pretty confusing. We are not sure why
the person got into the banquet without a wedding garment, but somehow that
person did and should not have been there. It probably is an image of
baptism. Everyone is invited to the Kingdom of God. Entry into the
Kingdom is normally through baptism of some type, physical baptism, baptism
by being a martyr or baptism of desire. Today we stretch baptism of desire
to cover all those who are seeking truth and goodness and justice and right
and may never have known Jesus as Savior.

The first reading, from the Prophet Isaiah, is also a strong reading that
invokes wonderful images and can speak to the heart. When the Prophet
tells us that nn this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all
peoples, he is using figurative speech to tell us that in the end we shall
understand how the truth touched each one of us.

None of us is without sin and it is sin that veils our vision of the
Kingdom. With baptism, sin is removed and we are able to see the Kingdom
with a spiritual vision. We sin again and again, but we also have the
sacrament of reconciliation to open our eyes over and over. Our God is a
God of compassion and love.

We can become like those who are invited and refuse the invitation if we
refuse to follow the Lord, if we reject the baptism that opens our eyes, if
we refuse the sacrament of reconciliation that continually gives us new
vision.

Just as Saint Paul in his Letter to the Philippians, tells them that he
receives all that he needs from the Lord, so also we can understand his
words spiritually. When he tells us that his God will fully supply
whatever we need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus, we
can surely accept that God gives us all that we need in this life to
perceive the Kingdom and to live in the Kingdom.

This seems true for everyone who honestly seeks the truth, everyone who
seeks to love others and for everyone who sincerely tries to do right.
God's love is so generous! Such an invitation is not meant to lead us to
leave our Church in the hour of distress, but instead encourages us to see
the truth beyond the stains of sinfulness.

Let us seek the Lord where He is to be found. Let us walk the path of
salvation. Let us thank the Lord for opening our eyes so that we recognize
His love and compassion even when hidden behind the sinfulness of our own
lives, the sinfulness of other or the sinfulness of our Church.